For Hirscher, French Are Favorites In Combined

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) – France’s Alexis Pinturault starts as favorite for Tuesday’s men’s combined event at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre where the sport’s true all-rounder will be crowned.

The combined consists of a downhill and slalom race with the winner gaining the fastest aggregate time. It requires an ability to be at the highest level in both the technical and turning skills of slalom and the pure speed of downhill.

Pinturault - Skier - Format - Years - World

Pinturault is the most successful skier in the format in recent years having won four World Cup season titles, most recently in 2017.

After a disappointing run of form in January, Pinturault decided to take four days off on the Japanese island of Okinawa to re-charge his batteries.

Goal - Break - Recover - Juice - Medal

“The goal was to take a break, recover and put back juice” he said. “Right now I’m going for my best medal chance, I’ll have to take a chance, the goal is gold.”

The 26-year-old’s only Olympic success so far was a bronze in giant slalom in Sochi four years ago.

Bookmakers - Austria - Marcel - Hirscher - Favorites

The bookmakers have Austria’s Marcel Hirscher among the favorites for the combined, hardly surprising given his all-round skills have delivered six successive overall World Cup titles with a seventh currently within his grasp.